Brian Kimmes

This year marks the 95th Hobo Day football game. Throughout the years, Jacks have blown out opponents, kicked last-second field goals, defeated No. 1 ranked schools and had a game span two days.

With some luck, the 2006 Hobo Day game will go down in SDSU history as a great game as well. Here are some of the more memorable games of the last 95 years:

The first Hobo Day game in 1912 was a low-scoring affair, with then South Dakota State College triumphing over Yankton College. The game was nothing too spectacular, but it helped mark the beginning of Hobo Day tradition.

In the biggest blowout in Hobo Day history, the Jacks stormed past the University of South Dakota in 1963, 61-0. The Jacks earned 516 yards, compared to USD’s 74.

Numerous Hobo Day games have been won by the Jacks in the last minute of the game. In 1997, quarterback Brock Beran connected with Noel Bouche for a Hail Mary as time expired to defeat St. Cloud State, 21-16.

A year later, in 1998, the only overtime game in Hobo Day history occurred. In double overtime, kicker Brett Gorden booted a 23-yard field goal to notch a 30-27 victory against the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Forty-eight years before the first overtime victory, the Hobo Day game ended in a tie. SDSU came back to tie the University of North Dakota, 21-21. The Jacks nearly lost the game, as UND blocked the tying extra point attempt. However, UND was flagged for offsides, and SDSU kicked the extra point on the second attempt to tie the score.

The 1989 game had both a dramatic finish and a totally unique aspect. This particular game played out over a two-day span. Due to lightning, the coaches agreed to suspend the game with nine minutes and one second left to go in the fourth quarter. The game was completed the following day. On the game’s second day, the Jacks held on for a 13-12 victory against Morningside. With a chance to tie the game with an extra point, Morningside had the kick blocked by the late Doug Miller, who later went on to play in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers.

In what might be the most memorable game in Hobo Day history, SDSU defeated the No. 1 ranked University of South Dakota in 1985. In front of a still-record crowd of 16,193 people, SDSU jumped out to a 22-0 lead and won the game 24-12.

Information courtesy of Matt Hoover, Sports Information; Robert Burns, dean of the Honors College; V.J. Smith, executive director of the Alumni Association and Fred Oien, athletic director.